- And they’re off in the 1000m
On the penultimate day of winter (20th March) the much awaited contest took place at Plzen. rescheduled twice due to ice, once because it was too thin to walk on and therefore make a big enough course and the second time because the ice was at its thickest and again it wasn’t possible to make a large enough hole for the sporting contest. Ironically, at the time of the scond cancellation the air temperature had just risen dramatically yet after more than 3 months frozen it takes some time for the melting of the ice. Another lesson in how nature is firmly in charge, with us humans only able to influence but not control. Next year there is the possibility of switching the contest to a week or two earlier in order that it takes place when it should. This shouldn’t hinder winter swimming as in 2008 the Bolevecky pond was only 1.5c and the lake still wasn’t frozen.
Working hard in the chilly water
This year a further week of high air temperatures after the thaw raised the water temperature to a rather pleasant (at least for winter swimmers) 6.2c. Having said this the lack of points available in the Czech cup saw only7swimmers tackle the 1000m course with the channel swimmer Petr Mihola of Fides Brno leading from halfway to just take first place from club colleague Radomir Suchopa and local Tomas Kocanek of KPO Plzen. Then there was a short gap back to the Englishman Jack Bright, representing 1.PKO, who just held off 2 more local swimmers from KPO Plzen. These 6 all made it within the time limit of 22 minutes with the final swimmer of the seven just missing the cut off point.
A rather low key event this year, there were 4 more swims of 100, 250, 500, & 750m but although 6.2c water may be far too frigid even with a wetsuit for most people, for cold winter swimmming connoiseurs this is fresh spring like water. As the victor in the 100m Petr Mihola remarked to one member of the press “It really was very pleasant, we could have swum 2km without problems in this water.” Certainly true but don’t be misled, 6.2c is still chilly and there were still plenty of shivering bodies to be seen after exiting the water.
A typical winter swimmer? Maybe!
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